Theme is an idea or insight about human life that gives meaning to the story.
Theme also sometimes reveals the author’s view of life.
Theme is not the plot or subject---it is an idea
Eight ways to determine theme:
The theme can be stated in a single sentence or in an entire essay.
A theme is not the moral of the story. It is more originaland complex.
Ask yourself how the protagonist has changed throughout the story.
Think about the title.
It is expressed in a generalization about life or human nature.
Generalizations about life should be specifically focused.
Theme should explain the whole story not just parts.
Every person has his or her own way of stating a theme.
Theme – the central idea, on which a story is built, makes a revelation about the subject, always a statement able to be expressed in one sentence.
Subject – the topic
For example:
Love
War
Growing up
The THEME usually:
Is not directly stated in the story at all
Reveals a truth about human behavior
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Finding a story’s theme
Think about the title….does it add meaning to the story?
Does the main character change or realize something about himself or herself?
Are there any important statements about life (or people)?
Test your statement of theme on the story- does it apply to the whole story or just to parts?
Connotations- emotions and associations that have become associated with a word through usage * They can be positive or negative* Denotations- meanings that are the literal meaning (how the definition appears in the dictionary)
- The theme can be stated in a single sentence or in an entire essay.
- A theme is not the moral of the story. It is more originaland complex.
- Ask yourself how the protagonist has changed throughout the story.
- Think about the title.
- It is expressed in a generalization about life or human nature.
- Generalizations about life should be specifically focused.
- Theme should explain the whole story not just parts.
- Every person has his or her own way of stating a theme.
Theme – the central idea, on which a story is built, makes a revelation about the subject, always a statement able to be expressed in one sentence.Subject – the topic
For example:The THEME usually:
- Is not directly stated in the story at all
- Reveals a truth about human behavior
------------------------------------------------------------------------Finding a story’s theme
Connotations- emotions and associations that have become associated with a word through usage
* They can be positive or negative*
Denotations- meanings that are the literal meaning (how the definition appears in the dictionary)
Literary Terms